Raid devices, systems, and methods

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a storage device utilizing laptop storage drives and rackmount server adapted to use the same. The storage device includes a body and drive software. The drive and internal portions of the body are adapted to form contact fits. The software of the storage device provides an electronic interface that permits operations of advantageous RAID configurations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority as a divisional application from U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/851,870 to David Harry Klein, filed Aug.6, 2010, titled RAID DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS the entire disclosureof which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of variable electronicstorage systems and more specifically to the field of Redundant Arraysof Independent Disks systems.

BACKGROUND

It is known how to store data in an array of disks managed by an arraycontroller to control the storage and retrieval of data from the arrayis known. One example of such a system is a Redundant Array ofIndependent Disks (RAID) comprising a collection of multiple disksorganized into a disk array managed by a common array controller. Thearray controller presents the array to the user as one or more virtualdisks. Disk arrays are the framework to which RAID functionality isadded in functional levels to produce cost-effective, high-performancedisk systems having varying degrees of reliability based on the type ofRAID architecture implemented. RAID architecture can be conceptualizedin two dimensions as individual disks arranged in adjacent columns.Typically, each disk is partitioned with several identically sized datapartitions known as stripes, or minor stripes. Distributed across thearray of disks in rows, the identically sized partitioned strips form adata stripe across the entire array of disks. Therefore, the arraycontains stripes of data distributed as rows in the array, wherein eachdisk is partitioned into stripes of identically partitioned data andonly one strip of data is associated with each stripe in the array.

As is known, RAID architectures have been standardized into severalcategories. RAID level 0 is a performance-oriented striped data mappingtechnique incorporating uniformly sized blocks of storage assigned in aregular sequence to all of the disks in the array. RAID level 1, alsocalled mirroring, provides simplicity and a high level of dataavailability, but at a relatively high cost due to the redundancy of thedisks. RAID level 3 adds redundant information in the form of paritydata to a parallel accessed striped array, permitting regeneration andrebuilding of lost data in the event of a single-disk failure. RAIDlevel 4 uses parity concentrated on a single disk to allow errorcorrection in the event of a single disk failure, but the member disksin a RAID 4 array are independently accessible. In a RAID 5implementation, parity data is distributed across some or all of themember disks in the array. The RAID 5 architecture achieves performanceby striping data blocks among N disks, and achieves fault-tolerance byusing 1/N of its storage for parity blocks, calculated by taking theexclusive-or (XOR) of all data blocks in the parity disks row. A RAID 6architecture is similar to RAID 5, but RAID 6 can overcome the failureof any two disks by using an additional parity block for each row (for astorage loss of 2/N). In one example of a RAID 6 architecture, the firstparity block (P) is calculated with XOR of the data blocks. The secondparity block (Q) employs Reed-Solomon codes. One drawback of the knownRAID 6 implementation is that it requires a complex and computationallytime-consuming array controller to implement the Reed-Solomon codesnecessary to recover from a two-disk failure. The complexity ofReed-Solomon codes may preclude the use of such codes in software, ormay necessitate the use of expensive special purpose hardware. Thus,implementation of Reed-Solomon codes in a disk array increases the cost,complexity, and processing time of the array.

SUMMARY

The invention is directed to a storage device having a body, drivesoftware, and an interface. The body includes at least two interiordrive slots with an internal support member. Multiple laptop storagedrives having a girth of less than 2.5 includes fit within each slot.The drives include an external drive fit member adapted to form acontact fit relationship with the internal support member. The bodyincludes a drive door for each drive adapted to fit within the body. Thesoftware provides an electronic interface that permits operations ofRAID 0, RAID 1, non-RAID, and combinations thereof. The body includes aphysical interface that includes, and preferably consists of, a powerindicator.

Another embodiment of the storage device includes a body with a singleinterior slot with at least four of the laptop storage drives of girthless than 2.5 inches in a storage drive array The drives include anexternal drive fit member adapted to form a contact fit relationshipwith the internal support member. The body includes a drive door foreach drive adapted to fit within the body. The software provides anelectronic interface that permits operations of RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5,and combinations thereof. The body includes a physical interface thatincludes, and preferably consists of, a power indicator.

The present invention further includes rackmount servers adapted toaccept the storage devices, and a system that includes a computer inelectronics communication with the storage devices directly or via arackmount server.

These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive.Furthermore, some features may apply to certain versions of theinvention, but not others. Other features, aspects, and advantages ofthe present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art when read in conjunction with the followingdescription, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the server of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the server of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view of the process of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view of the system of the present invention.

FIGS. 10A-10D are cutaway, partial views of the device of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, a basic embodiment of the storagedevice 100 and variable storage process 200 are shown. The device 100preferable includes two or more 2.5″ formatted SATA hard drives 102. Thedrives 102 are removably positioned within drive slots 104 dimensionedto accept the drives 102 within the device body 106. The drive slots 104may occupy any position, but a preferred position places one drive ontop of another as is shown by FIG. 5. Each slot, 104, can only acceptone hard drive. It is preferred that the two slots 104 are separated bya thin sheet of metal as depicted in FIG. 10D. The preferred slotincludes internal body fit members as support means. By body fitmembers, it is meant that rather than rely on quasi-permanent means ofcomponent attachment that requires actuating of distinct attachmentaccessories, e.g. bolts and screws, the present invention utilizescomponents that rely on contact to secure two components.

Turning now to FIGS. 10A-10D, the preferred body fit members 190 withinthe drive slots 104 include siderails or some other internal supportmeans 192 that position the drive slot in a position proximate to thedrive so as to provide fit support. The drive slot may include a singlecontinuous opening that utilizes the body fit members to form anydesired physical partitions. The internal body fit member of the devicemay include a body shelf, siderails, a door shelf, snaps, grooves, etc.The external drive fit members 194 may include a drive 102 with a bodyhaving dimensions to releasably mate with the internal body fit membersof the device. The fittings may form a rest fit relationship such thatthe drive merely rests upon a body fit member. The fittings may form aclose fit relationship, such that a close sizing between a portion ofthe drive or component thereof and the body slot or a component thereofforms a near fit. By near fit, it is meant that a distance between twocomponents is highly minimized to a substantial degree dictated by thenatural size tolerances between two components. The fittings may form aninterference fit, such that one component includes a size adapted torequire pressure to fit within a second component and upon fittingrequires substantial pressure for removal. The fit members serve as ameans of support in addition to the natural support provided by anyinternal data couplings 196 within the device body, e.g. eSATA ports.Returning to FIG. 1, a user need only open the slot door 108 to accessthe disk 102 for removal.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there are preferably three connections, locatedon the rear of the body. The connections include two data connections,including a USB 2.0 port 110 and an eSATA 3.0 Gb/s port 112. When thedevice is used via the USB Port, the drives will not be capable ofremoval during operation; when the device is used with the eSATA port,the drives will be capable of removal during operation. Additionally,the device 100 includes a direct current port 114. The body 106preferably includes venting 116 to permit the emission of heat.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the setup and configuration of thesystem 500, which includes device(s) 100, the supporting computer 300 incommunication with the device(s) 100, and potentially one or morerackmount servers bearing the devices 100 will by performed via software600 loaded onto the computer 300 that connects to the device directly orthrough a rackmount server. The process 200 of the present inventionincludes recognition and configuration of the device. Upon insertion ofa new hard drive in either the primary or ancillary slot, the device 100will remain dormant 202, 204 and take no action. For the purposes of thepresent disclosure, the primary disk shall refer to the base drivepositioned in the device, whereas the ancillary drive shall refer to anyother number of drives described either by their relationship to eitherthe primary drive or another ancillary drive. Each drive includes drivesoftware 700 having a recognition token that includes two parameters: arecognition parameter identifies the drive as capable of use with thepresent invention, and an action parameter that includes an actionrequest. The preferred action request includes instructions to remaindormant until instructions from the software are accepted. Analternative action request includes immediate configuration by thecomputer without user interaction. The recognition token is recognizedby software within a computer adapted to seek the recognition tokenactively. The computer 300 informs the user of the existence of a newdrive 206, 208 and requests an initiation action 210, 212 for the drive.Specifically, the computer provides a two-pronged decision to the useras to whether s/he would prefer operation of the device as a RAID 0configuration 218, a RAID 1 configuration 220, or operate as a dual harddrive 216. Other forms of the present invention my present other raidoptions, such as RAID 5.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the present invention further includes arackmount server 400 bearing multiple storage devices 100. The server400 includes a server body 402 with multiple device slots 410dimensioned to accept the storage devices 100. The embodiment of thestorage device 100 adapted for use with the rackmount server 400includes direct current contact points 124 rather than use of a directcurrent plug outlet. The preferred rackmount server 400 includes anoptical drive 406 and multiple 2.5″ SATA hard drives for the operationof the server itself Any drive 102 within the rackmount server 400 maybe removed and still be capable of backing up any number of servers on alocal area network. The software that that operates the device 100 isthe same software that operates the server 400, and preferably includesfunctions such that the only physical interface required upon the driveor rackmount server body is a power indicator 404. The server 400operates a server operating system and backup software.

Turning now to FIGS. 5-7, the present invention further includes aquad-drive embodiment of the device 100 and an embodiment of therackmount server 400 adapted to internally support multiple quad-drivedevices 100. The quad-drive may include either direct current contactsfor positioning within the rackmount server 400 or a direct current plugoutlet. It is preferred that the server 400 include a rechargeable powersource. The preferred operation utilizes the quad-drive embodiment ofthe device 100 and the server 400 adapted therefor to be softwareconfigurable only. Both the device 100 and server run in RAID 5 modeonly. Furthermore, the server 400 must possess at least three drives 102therein to be configured for operation. Any other drive 102 may be partof the RAID 5 or can be a “hot spare.”

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versionswould be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not belimited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for initializing a RAID system, saidprocess comprising: positioning a 2.5″ SATA primary hard drive within astorage device, in communication with a computer having an interface,supporting at least one 2.5″ SATA ancillary hard drive; communicatingfrom said primary hard drive to said computer a recognition token thatincludes identification parameters and an action parameter adapted tomaintain initial dormancy of said primary drive; informing a user ofsaid positioning step through said computer interface; and requestingfrom the user an initiation action for the primary drive related to theinteraction of the primary drive with said ancillary drive.
 2. Theprocess of claim 1, wherein said requesting step includes requestingfrom the user an initiation action selected from a group consisting of aRAID 0 configuration, a RAID 1 configuration, a dual hard driveconfiguration, and combinations thereof.